Merry Christmas from my family to yours!
Joel Osteen said it best:
"Christmas is the perfect time to celebrate the love of God and family and to create memories that will last forever. Jesus is God's perfect, indescribable gift. The amazing thing is that not only are we able to receive this gift, but we are able to share it with others on Christmas and every other day of the year."
Merry Christmas, y'all!
A far cry from Alaska, tonight I'm in Central Alabama for a long-awaited evening with my wonderful (and gorgeous!) friend, Stormy, who flew in from San Diego, and our close friends and mentors Audrey and Eduardo. Wish I lived closer to these three.
Funny story: in 2008, Stormy and I were visiting Audrey and Eduardo in their kitchen. The topic of my moving to Alaska came up, and I expressed my hesitancy. Audrey responded without missing a beat:
"What do you have to lose? It will change your life. You'll probably have the adventure of a lifetime, too."
For whatever reason, Audrey's statement flipped a switch in my mind.
Later that evening, I literally saw the sign - a magnet on Audrey's fridge, which read:
"Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do."
Remember this inspiring advice, my friends. Remember it. Always.
It took four flights and 26 hours to get back to Bama. It cost just shy of a thousand dollars, plus an overnight on a bench in the Seattle-Tacoma Airport. It took all this and more to finally get back to the Heart of Dixie, back to my Momma’s arms.
Reunion time in the Huntsville airport.
Seattle to Portland...
I’ve lived in Alaska for “only” six years, but whenever I venture back to the Lower 48, it's still sometimes overwhelming. Don't get me wrong - I love the travel and hustle and bustle of big cities. But I’m comfortable in Alaska now. Comfy with the community and low crime and no traffic. Relaxed in the simplicity and minimalism of the Last Frontier.
Yet on Sunday, I found myself navigating Chicago O’Hare International Airport – and it was an assault on the senses. Crowds rushing everywhere. The smell in the air of fried chicken and gyros and bubble tea. Florescent lights reflecting on slick tile floors. Beeps, thuds, and foreign languages around every corner.
There was the Swabian family, worried they weren't going to make their connecting flight to Frankfurt. And the couple from Minsk, beyond excited about spending their holiday in Vegas.
And then there was me, just a happy and anxious Alaskan, wide-eyed with wonder... and thrilled to be going home for the holidays.
Somewhere over Chicago...
The challenge of living in Alaska, if you're not originally from here, is connecting in person with far-away family and friends. For starters, it's ridiculously expensive to fly out of Juneau. Secondly, if you can't get direct flights on your itinerary, it can take an entire day or longer to get to your final destination, especially if that destination is south of the Mason-Dixon line.
I recently decided to surprise my Mom, who lives thousands of miles away in Alabama. My good friend, Yvette, took my Mom to dinner, under the guise that Yvette would soon cruise through Juneau, and it was ample opportunity for Yvette to bring up some things I had in storage. Yvette totally rocked our surprise, and I couldn't have done it without her. Thanks, Yvette!
A big THANK YOU also goes out to the kind folks at 3 Skillets in downtown Huntsville. They helped me orchestrate an epic surprise - complete with a quick and dim jaunt up the back stairway. Below is the video capturing the surprise moment. Grab your Kleenex!
It was all I could do to not run towards my Mom when I saw her park outside the restaurant.
Mom and I at 3 Skillets.
With my sweet and beautiful friend, Yvette.